But they are confirming your experience! I can add a third one which is we didn't take the pledge seriously (like Bart Simpson) but my experience is the same--Shocked at all this--and how fast this can happen. I thought more people believed in the civic ideals I was taught.
True story, i did the morning school announcements for a short while in highschool, and when announcing it was time to stand and say the pledge, I said (in bob marleys style song) "get up, stand up.. get up for da pledge"... they banned me from the announcements after that. I always hated the pledge
Hahaha! I LOVE that!